Jobless claims fall, near lowest level of the year

First-time claims for jobless aid fell by 17,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 421,000 in the week ending Dec. 4, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure, dropped for the fifth straight week to 427,500. That's the lowest since August 2008, just before the financial crisis intensified with the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Separately, the Commerce Department said businesses boosted wholesale inventories for the tenth straight month in October and sales rose by the largest amount in seven months. Strong demand from businesses restocking depleted store shelves has helped the economy grow after the recession and the latest data suggests that hasn't tapered off.

Still, Thursday's economic data was not all positive. Mortgage rates rose for the fourth straight week. The average rate on a 30-year fixed loan increased to 4.61 percent and the average rate on a 15-year fixed loan hit 3.96 percent, Freddie Mac said. The surge could slow refinancings and further hamper the housing market.

Unemployment claims have fallen steadily in the past two months. Applications dropped to 410,000 two weeks ago - the lowest level in more than two years - and they have been below 450,000 for the past five weeks. That is raising hopes that companies will soon accelerate hiring.

The job market is also expected to benefit if Congress passes legislation that would extend tax cuts for two years and unemployment benefits through the end of next year.

Still, unemployment claims have only been below 425,000 for two of the last three weeks. Economists say they need to be below that level for an extended period to have any real impact lowering the nation's unemployment rate.

In November the economy added just 39,000 net jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent. Many economists say that was only a temporary setback and that the downward trend in unemployment claims, along with other strong economic data, suggest December will be a stronger month for hiring.